WEBVTT SHE WAS ALONE IN THE CAR. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. BRIAN: IN MONTPELIER, GOVERNOR PHIL SCOTT RELEASED A NEW REPORT TODAY SHOWING A LOT OF VERMONT’S SCHOOLS COULD BE DOING MORE TO IMPROVE SECURITY. STATE AND LOCAL POLICE TESTED EACH SCHOOL IN THE STATE A FOUND HALF DO NOT REQUIRE STAFF TO WEAR I.D., A NO-NO. 70% LACK THE ABILITY TO LOCK A EXTERIOR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. NOW, THE STATE PLANS TO OFFER MILLIONS IN GRANTS TO SCHOOLS TO MAKE THEM LESS VULNERABLE, FOR EXAMPLE, TO AN ARMED INTRUDER. >> THINGS LIKE SECURITY CAMERAS, ADVANCED DOOR LOCKING SYSTEMS AND COMMUNICATION TOOLS LIKE PA SYSTEMS AND RADIOS. THE GOVERNOR’S COMMITTED TO GETTING THESE GRANTS TO SCHOOLS AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. >> I WANT PARENTS ACROSS THE STATE TO KNOW WE’RE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO KEEP THEIR KIDS SAFE. AND I WANT STUDENTS TO KNOW WE’VE HEARD YOU AND AGREE SHOULD SHOULD NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT YOUR OWN SAFETY WHEN YOU WALK INTO YOUR SCHOOL. BRIAN: THE SECURITY GRANTS A LAST WEEK’S GUN BILL SIGNINGS ARE ONLY PART OF THE SOLUTION, SCOTT SAID, ALSO ANNOUNCING A NEW COMMUNITY VIOLENCE PREVENTION TASK FORCE. IT’S CHARGED WITH RECOMMENDING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE VIOLENCE, REDUCE BULLYING, CLOSE MENTAL HEALTH GAPS, AND EXPLORE LINKS BETWEEN VIDEO GAMES AND VIOL

A new audit released Thursday found many Vermont schools lack basic security protocols, training or hardware, but help is on the way.

Gov. Phil Scott and Public Safety Commissioner Tom Anderson announced the results of a first-ever statewide school security assessment which they hope schools will take to heart.

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Scott ordered the review after the arrest of Poultney teenager Jack Sawyer on Feb. 16.

Police said Sawyer had a calculated plan for an armed attack on his former high school in Fair Haven.

The Sawyer case led Scott to support changes to gun regulation and to review school security procedures.

Scott said $4 million in state funding, which is expected to be approved by the Legislature in the next couple of weeks, will be made available to pay for school security upgrades. It will be up to local school districts to decide whether to apply.

Grants of up to $25,000 would cover costs of purchasing items such as surveillance cameras, communications systems and exterior door-locking systems.

Funding will be awarded this summer.

Anderson said the hope is to have all improvements in place before students return to schools in the fall.

Also on Thursday, Scott signed an executive order creating a new task force charged with recommending improvements to policies, law and procedures around violence prevention.

Scott said last week's signing of three gun reform measures was only part of the solution and hopes tighter school security and a focus on the underlying causes of violence will also help improve safety.

The task force has a variety of charges, including an examination of gaps in mental health services and research into potential links between gory video games and actual violence.

The 14-member panel has yet to be appointed. Its report is due Dec. 1.